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“No, Pappa, because she is an uninitiated baby who struggles to relate to people. She’s practically a nun! If I marry her, I will be obligated to have children with her. If I’m not attracted to her, that isn’t going to happen.”
“You haven’t even given her a chance,” Mamma said. “Queen Margaux spoke highly of her. She and I both believe you deserve someone kind and would benefit from someone like Alexandra.”
“This is a ridiculous arranged marriage!” I shook my head.
“It works for many. We live in a bubble?—”
“Pappa, you, and Mamma fell in love! You cannot talk?—”
“And my parents didn’t have the benefit, son. Get over yourself!”
I sighed, rolling my eyes.
“They fell for one another eventually,” Mamma continued. “And you could, too. No one is forcing you into this. She’s not perfect—nor are you—but she is open to meeting you. You certainly don’t have to marry her. Just think about it as a blind date.”
“Exactly,” Pappa added.
“Pappa, it’s nothing like that when the stakes are this high.”
“How is it different from any other date, son?”
I couldn’t give the actual answer to that question as I planned on bedding any woman I went out with. I didn’t find Alexandra remotely attractive at our first meeting. She was nothing to write home about. I bet she was a cold fish in bed. I liked my women enthusiastic, willing, and adventurous. I didn’t want to have to teach her everything.
She’d probably never been properly fucked—if at all—but I wasn’t in the business of playing daddy and raising her. No, she either had to come to me a fully formed woman or I would back right out. I could go to get my father off my back. Maybe she was the sweetest girl, but that alone would not hold me. I’d bore of her and hurt her. I may have been a prick, but I was done with hurting other people like that. I was making amends. She deserved better.
“She’s a nice girl,” Mamma said again. “She’s young, yes, but maybe that is what you need—someone young and sweet who can see all of you as a person rather than prejudge you.”
“You want me to pull the wool over her eyes.”
“Not quite,” my father said. “But you are much more saleable if you are a good boy. She doesn’t know much about you. Hopefully, you didn’t anger her on your first meeting.”
“I didn’t, no.”
I may have, but how would I know? It certainly wasn’t a good first impression, but also not the worst.
“I will give it an honest try,” I promised. “I will only say I find her unremarkable.”
“You may change your mind after you give her a chance,” Mamma said kindly. “Instant attraction is rare. Pappa and I loved one another, but we also grew much more as a married couple. It wasn’t lightning in a bottle at first sight.”
“Yes, possibly, but also unlikely. Best I can do is try, Pappa. What advantage is this to us? There must be something else?”
“The advantage would be I would be able to sleep at night knowing you are in a place where you cannot get into much trouble. Celeste runs that palace with an iron fist, and you’d get away with nothing.”
“Gee, you’re making this sound better and better, father!” I dripped with sarcasm.
I did not know my godmother well, but rumour had it she kept the princesses under lock and key for years before Alexandra came of age. She was a hardass. Of course, if I had little Alexandra wrapped around my fingers, I would have an easier go of it. Alexandra might give me the best chance yet.
“You can decide for yourself, but make a choice, son. And think about what you are doing with your life. Now, you can leave.”
I looked at my mother. She looked down, pained to be there. I wanted her so badly to say something. She was the only one left who saw the good in me. Pappa thought I was a big fuck up.
I left, unable to say more. I stormed out, past Martin, who caught up. We took the car back to my place. He was silent and sensed my seething disdain.
“They want me to go to Neandia to marry me off to this boring young girl,” I scoffed. “Martin, what the fuck do I do?”
“What if you don’t?” Martin asked.
“My father will cut me off. He all but said it.”
